Central nicotine binding sites: a study of post-mortem stability

The effect of post-mortem treatment on the binding of d, I-[3H]nicotine, to rat cerebrocortical membranes, has been evaluated. Neither freezing [-70 degrees C] and thawing, a four hour post-mortem period at room temperature, nor refrigeration for up to 96 hrs at 4 degrees C caused any significant changes in the density or properties of nicotine binding sites in cerebrocortical membranes. The results suggest that nicotine binding to membranes in brain is unlikely to be affected by the usual postmortem delays experienced before human necropsies.